Monitor My Health iron test - lack of ranges - Thyroid UK

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Monitor My Health iron test - lack of ranges

Bearo profile image
26 Replies

I spent a bit more money on my MMH test this year as I’ve never had an iron panel done but have always had low iron indicators on a full blood test.

I didn’t get complete results as ferritin failed (posting the kit back took 48 hours when it was tracked to take 24) but the results I did get, I can’t interpret, because there are no ranges, just mmh cut off points listed below the results. Is anyone able to comment on my results? I’ve never supplemented iron.

I got the thyroid results first so these have already been discussed in a previous post although further comments are always welcome.

I think vit d looks good and b12 looks adequate?

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Bearo profile image
Bearo
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26 Replies
SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

As there’s no range on iron, transferring or any ferritin result it’s not telling you much

No folate result either

Are they providing new test kit?

Medichecks is best bet for full iron panel test

Test early morning, only water to drink between waking and test. Avoid high iron rich dinner night before test

Medichecks iron panel test

medichecks.com/products/iro...

RedApple profile image
RedAppleAdministrator in reply toSlowDragon

'Medichecks is best'

Even Medichecks would not be able to provide results for a blood sample that arrives too late. The fault is with RM failing to deliver on time, not with MMH lab.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toRedApple

Agreed….postal issue caused lack of folate and ferritin results

But there’s no range on total iron, transferrin or transferrin saturation

Medichecks iron panel is same cost but doesn’t include B12 and folate

RedApple profile image
RedAppleAdministrator in reply toSlowDragon

'Medichecks iron panel is same cost but doesn’t include B12 and folate'

Exactly! MMH is much better value. At least Bearo got some information from her test, whereas if it was a failed Medichecks test, it would have been even less useful.

humanbean profile image
humanbean

Since MMH don't supply actual reference ranges, or in some cases just write H or L instead of numbers I can't see why anyone ever uses them, even if they are cheaper than other companies.

This link might be helpful - but even in this link the ferritin info is limited :

rt3-adrenals.org/Iron_test_...

The following link gives specific numbers for optimal ferritin, but given that ranges and testing protocols are different from lab to lab I'm never sure how much value the numbers have. At least they are fairly modest, rather than being high e.g. unlike the lab that says post-menopausal reference ranges for ferritin for women and for men can be up to 650 micrograms per litre which is higher than I've ever seen in any other scenario. It's bordering on levels found in haemochromatosis, in my opinion! [I think that 650 mcg/L may have been reduced recently but it only happened after patient complaints.]

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

Normal ferritin levels for women are between 20 and 200 ng/mL. According to some experts, ferritin levels of at least 40 ng/ml are required to stop hair loss, while levels of at least 70 ng/ml are needed for hair regrowth. The optimal ferritin level for thyroid function is between 90-110 ng/ml.

In view of the poor reports of results and ranges for MMH I think that Thyroid UK should stop advertising them on their info page about private testing :

thyroiduk.org/help-and-supp...

RedApple profile image
RedAppleAdministrator in reply tohumanbean

'Since MMH don't supply actual reference ranges, or in some cases just write H or L instead of numbers I can't see why anyone ever uses them,'

The problem is that the way MMH show your results is best viewed on a larger screen. Results of all their tests are shown on a graph, which has numbers to the left.

It's quite clear what your numbers are and where your result is within the range if you view the graphs. Example of an MMH Ferritin result in the attached screenshot.

MMH ferritin graph example
Bearo profile image
Bearo in reply toRedApple

They didn’t provide the graphs for the iron results. They did explain why not - something to do with the failed elements of the test - and just sent me an email with this part of the results.

RedApple profile image
RedAppleAdministrator in reply tohumanbean

'I think that Thyroid UK should stop advertising them on their info page about private testing '

For the benefit of others reading here too, getting your bloods done through MMH can be an advantage if you want to present your private test info to your GP.

Because MMH is a full blown NHS test lab, GPs can't use the 'private tests aren't reliable' arguement.

HealthStarDust profile image
HealthStarDust in reply toRedApple

They can and they do unfortunately. It just depends on your GP.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator

I suggest you have a read of my blog and see if that helps you to identify reference intervals. :-)

helvella - Viewing reference intervals on Monitor My Health

It can be rather more difficult to find reference intervals (ranges) on the Monitor My Health website. This page provides a simple summary of how to do that.

helvella.blogspot.com/p/hel...

TiggerMe profile image
TiggerMeAmbassador

It's an NHS lab so probably you might glean some information from here... labtestsonline.org.uk/tests...

humanbean profile image
humanbean

Thanks to everyone who posted about finding the reference ranges on MMH. I think my problem is that I've never used them and have only seen the output that people post on the forum. And if they don't know how to find the ranges then an onlooker like me doesn't either.

RedApple profile image
RedAppleAdministrator in reply tohumanbean

I wish MMH would take note of the fact that so many of their clients look at their results on a phone and have no clue that the full info is available.

HealthStarDust profile image
HealthStarDust in reply toRedApple

Agreed!

Bearo profile image
Bearo

This is the email from MMH:

We are sorry to hear there were issues analyzing your sample, and for the delay with Royal Mail's Tracked 24-hour service. I can confirm that your sample was received on 08/03/24. We will challenge them regarding this given we pay significantly more for this service.

You are missing Ferritin and Folate. Unfortunately, I am not able to issue a third kit free of charge as we only allow one free kit per order number. I am able to offer you a report for your Haemoglobin, Transferrin Saturation, and Vitamin B12 results, which may not have appeared on your dashboard due to the way in which we categorise results.

Please could you reply to let me know you are happy to receive this report via email?

I hope this helps.

Kind regards,

Michael

MMH Team

HealthStarDust profile image
HealthStarDust in reply toBearo

How interesting. All I got was get back in touch in 10days as sample is usable for 5 or 10 days. When you look at the terms it’s clear you can’t get a folate result after 2 days of blood collection. Horrid experience.

Bearo profile image
Bearo

Thanks to everyone who replied to my post.

RedApple profile image
RedAppleAdministrator in reply toBearo

I may be able to give you some 'ranges' from my own MMH tests if it would help?

Bearo profile image
Bearo in reply toRedApple

Ooh, thanks, Red Apple, a rough idea of the ranges would be a great help!

Bearo profile image
Bearo in reply toRedApple

Thanks RedApple if you can find a rough estimate of the iron ranges used by mmh that will be a great help.

RedApple profile image
RedAppleAdministrator in reply toBearo

Sorry Bear, missed your reply the other day!

Here are screenshots of the graph numbers from July last year. I'll have to add them in a succession of replies! Hope these help.

MMH Ferritin
RedApple profile image
RedAppleAdministrator in reply toBearo

MMH HB

MMH HB
RedApple profile image
RedAppleAdministrator in reply toBearo

MMH TSAT

MMH TSAT
RedApple profile image
RedAppleAdministrator in reply toBearo

MMH Active B12

MMH Active B12
RedApple profile image
RedAppleAdministrator in reply toBearo

MMH Folate

MMH Folate
Bearo profile image
Bearo in reply toRedApple

Thanks RedApple, that’s brilliant. My results now mean something!

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